Bon Secours Virginia Health System was named as one of 2017 Working Mother “100 Best Companies” for its outstanding leadership in establishing policies, programs and a corporate culture that supports the career advancement of women, workplace flexibility, on-site childcare, and paid parental leave.

This is the 19th consecutive year Bon Secours received this recognition from Working Mother magazine.

“Supporting and investing in our employees helps us deliver our mission of providing quality, compassionate care, and it’s simply the right thing to do,” said Jim Godwin, Bon Secours Virginia Health System vice president of Human Resource. “We strive to create a progressive culture in the areas of advancement of women.”

Working Mother editor-in-chief Meredith Bodgas said, “This year’s winning companies know the value of keeping their employee moms engaged and supported. They use schedule flexibility, paid parental leave and family benefits to ensure that parents can develop meaningful careers while leading satisfying home lives.”

Bon Secours was honored at an Oct. 24 gala in New York City. Whitney Major, a labor and delivery nurse at Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian, Va., represented the organization as the 2017 Working Mother of the Year.

With a female workforce of about 82 percent, Bon Secours is committed to progressive workplace programs that support working mothers.

"Sign up for health care, because you need to take care of yourself. It's your health."— Celebrate Healthcare organizer Gaylene Kanoyton

Prescription drug drop-off in region Saturday

The hospital is one of several sites participating in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative.

The program is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the hospital and provides a safe, convenient and responsible way for the public to get rid of unwanted medications while also educating about the potential for prescription drug abuse, according to the DEA's website. The service is free, with no questions asked, authorities said.

Only pills and other solids, like patches, will be accepted. Liquids, needles or other sharp objects will not be accepted.

Sentara has participated since the start of Drug Take Back days in September 2010, according to hospital officials.

A 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs, according to the release. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Study: Medicaid enrollment growth slowed down

Medicaid enrollment growth slowed to 2.7 percent in state fiscal year 2017, down from 3.9 percent the prior year and far off the peak of 13.2 percent in 2015 that followed implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion, according to a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Findings of Kaiser’s annual 50-state survey of Medicaid directors across the country suggest the slowdown in enrollment growth may be attributable to the tapering of new ACA-related Medicaid enrollment, a stable economy, and states’ processing of delayed eligibility redeterminations.

At the same time, total Medicaid spending grew by 3.9 percent in state FY 2017 and states project it will grow by 5.2 percent in state FY 2018, down from 10.5 percent growth in state FY 2015 after implementation of the ACA, the Foundation study found.

Major drivers of spending growth include rising costs of prescription drugs and long-term care services and supports and increases in payment rates for most provider groups.

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Follow Canty on Twitter @DPMCanty. She can be reached at 247-4832 or mcanty@dailypress.com.